Steam-engine governor



(No Model.) I Q G. W. GRIMES.

STEAM ENGINE GOVERNOR.

lPatented May 26, 1896.

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VNirnn STATES ATENT rricn.

STEAM-ENGINE GOVERNOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 560,709, dated May 26, 1896. Application filed December 21,1893. Serial No. 494,325. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may conci/Wag Be it known that I, GEORGE W. GRIMES, of Bluffton, in the county of Wells and State of Indiana, have invented a new and Improved Steam-Engine Governor, of which the follow ing is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object oi the invention is to provide a new and improved steamengine governor, which is simple and durable in construction and very eective in operation, and arranged to regulate the admission of steam to the en-V gine steam-chest according to the actual requirements, so as to maintain a uniform speed of the engine.

The invention consists of a spring-pressed bracket mounted to turn and carrying the driving-shaft, and a locking device held on the said bracket and adapted to lock the admission-valve stem in position to hold the said valve-stem normally open.

The invention also consists of certain parts and details and combinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter, and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in vwhich similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a side elevation ofthe improvement with parts in section. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same with the upper part in elevation. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view of the improvement on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. et is asimilar view of the same on the line 4.4L of Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view of the admission-valve on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

The improved governor is provided with an admission-valve having a valve-casing A,pro vided with a steam-inlet A, connected with a suitable steam-supply, and with an outlet A2, connected with the pipe leading to the steam-chest.

In the valvebody A is fitted to slide vertically a valve B, made of a series of rings B, which have rounded corners on that part affected by the action of the steam and are located one above the other and attached to vertically-disposed bars B2, so that the rings `are suitable distances apart to form spaces for the entrance of the steam. This valve BA is tted to slide in a casing held in the valveend of the frame A4.

body A and formed of a series of rings B3, secured on vertically-disposed bars B4, similar to the bars B2, so that the rings Bs are placed suitable distances apart to form admissionspaces adapted to be opened and closed by the rings B of the valve B. Thus when the spaces between the rings B register with the spaces between the rings B3 steam can pass from the inlet A through the said registering spaces into the middle of the valve Bl and down the same into the outlet A2. Then the valve B is raised or lowered, the rings B close the spaces between the rings B3 to reduce the admission of steam or to shut it off, according tothe amount of travel given to the valve.

The valve B is provided with an upwardlyextending valve-stem C, passing through a stuffing-box C', secured in the cover A3 for the valve-body A. The valve-stem@ is provided above the stuiiingbox C with an offset C2, in which is pivoted at D the speed-regulating lever D, connected at one outer end with a rod D2, extending downward through a boss A5, projecting from the frame At, cast on the head A3, and forming the support for the governor proper.

On the lower end of the rod D2 is coiled a spring D3, resting at its upper end in the boss A5 and at its lower end on a nut D4, screwing on the lower threaded end of the rod D2 to regulate the tension of the spring D3. The extreme upper end of the valve-stem C carries a nut C3, adapted to be engaged by a sleeve F, fitted to slide 'loosely on the valve-stem C and provided on opposite sides with wedges F and F2, engaged by .correspondinglyshaped wedges G2 and G3, formed on the inner ends of hubs Gi and G5, respectively, projecting ini wardirom the halves G and G of the govern or ball. The hubs G4 and G5 are fitted to slide in a bearingl-I', formed ona sleeve H, mounted to rotate in a bearing A, formed on the upper (See Figs. l and et.) On the outside of the bearing A6 is mounted to turn the hub l of a bracket I, provided with a horizontally-disposed bearing l2, in which is journaled the driving-shaft J, carrying on its outer end Va pulley J', over which passes the belt J2, connected with a pulley of the engine, so that a rotary motion is given to the said pulley J and the shaft J during the time the engine is running. 0n the inner end of IOO the shaft J is secured a bevel gear-wheel J 5, in mesh with a bevel gear-wheel H2, fastened on the lower end of the sleeve H, so that the rotary motion ofthe said shaft J is transmitted by the gear-wheels J 5 and H3 to the sleeve II, which, by its bearing II, carrying the hubs G4 and G5, causes a rotation of the halves G and G', forming the single governor-ball.

The centrifugal force of the halves G and G causes the latter to slide outward, the said halves being normally held in a closed position by springs K and K, respectively, coiled on a horizontally-extendin g rod K2, provided at its middle with a loop K5 for the free passage of the valve-stem C, as will be readily understood by reference to Figs. 1 and Lt, said valve-stem when passed through said loop K3 serving to prevent turning ofthe rod K2. The inner ends of the springs K and K are engaged byprojections G5, formed on the inner ends of the hubs G4 and G5, the outer ends of the said springs resting against heads K4 and K5, respectively, formed or secured in the shape of nuts on the outer ends of the rod K2. Each of the heads K4 or K5 is provided with a projection K5, (see Figs. l and 2,) engaging a longitudinally-extending groove G7,formed in each of the hubs G4 or G5, respectively, to permit the halves G and G to slide outward and at the same time preventing the nut-heads from turning. I

Now it will be seen that when the halves G and G slide outward, this being caused by the centrifugal force ofthe rotating governorball, the wedges G2 and G5 on the hubs G4 and G5 of the said halves G and G cause an upward sliding of the Wedges F and F2 of the sleeve F, so that the upper end thereof presses on the nut C5 in an upward direction, thereby lifting the valve-stem C and causing an upward sliding of the valve B to close the valve to regulate the admission of steam. Thus when the engine attains more than the normal rate ofspeed the halves G and G will be caused to iiy outward to such an extent as to cause the sleeve F to lift the valve-stem C, to completely close the valve B, to shut off the supply of steam to the engine until the speed of the latter is reduced to the normal rate, so that the halves G and G are forced back to their normal position by the action of the springs K K. '.lhe inward movement of the halves G G permits the sleeve F to move back toits normal position it being understood that the stem C is pressed downward by the action ot the spring D2 on the speed-lever D, pivoted at D on the valve-stem.

As previously mentioned, the bracket I, carrying the main driving-shaft J, is hung loosely on the bearing A5; but in order to limit the swinging movement of the said bracket in one direction I provide the latter with a cross-beam I4,- (see Fig. 3,) carrying atone end a pin I5, adapted to abut on a lug A7, formed on the inside of the frame A4, the said lug being slotted to form a guideway for the lever D. On the other end of the beam I4 is secured a pin I5, adapted to pass at its free end into an apertured lug A2, likewise formed on the frame A4 opposite the lug A5, and also vertically slotted to guide this end of the lever D. The inner end of the pin IG is adapted to pass over this end of the lever D, so as to permit the spring D3 on the other end of the lever to exert its full force on the valve-stem O. -Nowit will be seen, however, that when the pin IG is withdrawn from over the lever D then the lever D will swing from its fulcrum at D/, thus relieving the valvestem C of any pressure that has previously been exerted on the stem by the spring Din a downward direction. A spring I7 is coiled on the pin I5, resting at one end on the beam I4 and at its other end on the outer face of the lug A5, so that in case the belt J2 breaks the said spring I7 will cause the bracket I to swing in the direction of the arrow ed, so that the pin I6 is withdrawn from over the lever D, as previously explained, to suddenly and instantly close the valve B by changing the point of contact on the lever D with the pin I6 to the opposite side of the frame A4, thus causing the valve B to rise sufficiently to close the same.

It is understood that the bracket I is held in the normal position shown in Fig. 3 by the belt J2 pulling in the inverse direction of the arrow a, to hold the pin IG in engagement with the lug AS and over the lever D. The swinging motion of the bracket I in the direction of the arrow a is limited by the stoppin I5, abutting on the lug A7.

Having thus fully' described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- Y 1.- An engine-governor comprising a valvestem provided with a nut, a sleeve adapted to engage the said nut and provided with wedges, a governor-ball made in separated halves provided with inwardly extending hubs formed with wedges engaging the said sleeve-wedges, and a sleeve` mounted to rotate and carrying the said halves, substantia-lly as shown and described.

2. An engine-governor comprising a valvestem provided with a nut, a sleeve adapted toengage the said nut and provided with wedges, a governor-ball made in halves provided with inwardly-extending hubs formed with wedges engaging the said sleeve-wedges, a sleeve mounted to rotate and carrying the said halves, a rod extended into each of said halves and having its central portion loosely surrounding the valve stem and springs pressing on the hubs of the said halves to hold the latter in a closed position, substantially asshown and described.

3. An engine-governor comprising a valvestem provided with a nut, a sleeve adapted to engage the said nut and provided with wedges, a governor-ball made in halves provided with inwardly-extending hubs formed with wedges engaging the said sleeve-wedges, a sleeve mounted to rotate and carrying the TOO said halves, springs pressing on the hubs of the said halves to hold the latter in a closed position, and a rod carrying the said springs and provided with nut-heads having lugs fitted into corresponding grooves in the hubs of the said halves, substantially as shown and described.

4L. A steam-engine governor comprising a valve-stem, a spring-pressed speeddever fulcrnmed on the said stem, and a bracket mounted to swing on the valve-frame and oarrying the main driving shaft and pulley, a cross-beam on the bracket and a pin extended from the cross-beam and adapted to engage the said speed-lever, to lock the latter in position, substantially as shown and described.

5. A steam-engine governor comprising a valve-stein, a spring-pressed speed-lever fulcrumed on the said stem, a bracket mounted to swing, carrying the said main driving shaft and pulley, and provided with a pin adapted to engage the said speed-lever, to lock the latter in position, and a spring surrounding the pin and pressing on the said bracket to cause the latter to swing, to withdraw the pin from over the said speed-lever whenever the belt breaks, substantially as shown and described.

6. A steam-engine governor provided with an admission-valve comprising a valve-body, formed of a series of rings located one above the other, to form steam-spaces, and a valve proper composed of a series of rings operating within the said casing-rings and connected by vertically-disposed bars, all of said rings being rounded on the edges receiving the inipact of the steam, substantially as shown and described.

7. A steam-engine governor comprising a governor-ball made in halves adapted to iit together when at rest but to be moved laterally away from each other under the centrifugal force, said halves having hubs projecting from their inner sides and being provided with axial bores extending through said hubs and having reduced inner ends, a rotative sleeve having oppositely-arranged projecting bearings to receive said hubs of the halves of the governonball, springs arranged in the bores of the halves, a rod passing through each bore and having nuts between which and the reduced inner ends of the bores said springs are held, and means for communicating the movement of the halves to the valve stem, substantially as set forth.

8. A steam-engine governor comprising two Weights arranged to move in opposite directions under the influence of the centrifugal force, and provided with bores the inner ends of which are reduced, a sleeve having oppositely arranged bearings whereon said weights are held to slide, a rod extending through the bores of the weights, nnts on the ends of the rods, arranged in the bores and provided with means whereby they are prevented from turning in said bores, springs held between said nuts and the inner ends of the bores in the weights, and a valve-stem actuated from the weights and having engagement with the central part of said rod to prevent the same from turning, substantially as set forth.

GEORGE W. GRIMES.

Witnesses:

LEVI MooK, ABE SIMMONS. 

